Society Leadership & Slate of Nominees
The following individuals include the Society’s incoming leadership and the official slate of nominees approved by the Board of Directors at its spring meeting for the 2026 election. Please contact execdirector@phikappaphi.org with any questions.
2026-2028 Society President and Past President
President (2-year term)
Philip E. Phillips, Ph.D.
Philip E. Phillips, Ph.D., is Associate Dean of the University Honors College and Professor of English at Middle Tennessee State University, where he teaches American, British, and early European literature. His research interests include American Studies, literary history, English poetry, spatial literary studies, and ecocriticism. In 2025, he was appointed to the prestigious Fulbright Specialist Roster in American literature, reflecting his international reputation as a scholar and educator.
An active leader in both academic and professional organizations, Phillips is serving a fourth term as President of the Poe Studies Association and is Executive Director of the International Boethius Society. He has organized international scholarly conferences and taught or delivered lectures throughout Europe and Asia. His scholarship has received international recognition, including the Poe Studies Association's J. Lasley Dameron Award for his books Poe and Place and Poe Spaces: Within and Beyond the Spatial Turn.
A longtime leader within Phi Kappa Phi, Phillips currently serves as President-Elect of the Society. He previously served two terms on the Board of Directors and chaired Phi Kappa Phi's first Strategic Planning Taskforce. Through his scholarship, leadership, and service, Phillips has distinguished himself as an advocate for honors education, scholarly engagement, and excellence in higher education.
Past President (2-year term)
Sharhonda Rush, MBA, MPP
Sharhonda Rush, MBA, MPP, is a North America Marketing Manager for BlackLine and a seasoned accounting and business operations professional with more than 25 years of experience in financial systems, process improvement, and organizational leadership. Throughout her career, she has led complex operational initiatives, managed enterprise technology implementations, and helped organizations improve efficiency through strategic planning and business process optimization.
An experienced Society leader, Rush currently serves as President of Phi Kappa Phi for the 2024–2026 biennium. She was initiated into Phi Kappa Phi through the Jacksonville University chapter in 2018 and was first elected to the Society's Board of Directors in 2020. During her service, she has chaired the Finance and Budget Committee and worked closely with the Board and executive leadership team to advance the Society's strategic priorities.
Rush earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Christopher Newport University and both an MBA and Master of Public Policy from Jacksonville University. She brings a unique combination of corporate leadership, financial expertise, and nonprofit governance experience to the Society.
2026 Phi Kappa Phi Board of Director Nominees
President-Elect (2-year term)
Ron Tulley, Ph.D.
Ron Tulley, Ph.D., is President-elect of Calumet College of St. Joseph, where he will assume the presidency on July 1, 2026, following a national search. Prior to this appointment, he served as Dean of the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, Professor of English, and Development Officer at the University of Findlay, where he spent more than two decades in academic leadership roles.
A longtime leader within Phi Kappa Phi, Tulley currently serves as Treasurer and Director on the Society’s Board of Directors. He previously served as Division IV Vice President, Chair of the Fellowship Committee, and a member of the Love of Learning Committee. He was a founding member of the University of Findlay chapter and has served in multiple chapter leadership roles.
Tulley earned a Ph.D. in Writing History and Theory from Case Western Reserve University and holds master's degrees in English, Business Administration, Health Informatics, and Education. His experience spans academic affairs, enrollment management, institutional
advancement, accreditation, online learning, and strategic leadership. Initiated into Phi Kappa Phi in 1994 at Southern Illinois University, he brings more than 25 years of higher education experience and a longstanding commitment to the Society's
mission to cultivate a community that celebrates and advances the love of learning.
Director Positions
Ronald Shaklee, Ph.D
(1-year term)
Ronald V. Shaklee is Professor Emeritus of Geography at Youngstown State University and currently serves on Phi Kappa Phi’s Board of Directors. His previous Society service includes chairing the Fellowship Committee, serving as a regional vice president, and contributing to the Love of Learning and Pioneer Award committees. A Phi Kappa Phi member since 2002, Shaklee brings decades of experience in higher education leadership, honors education, scholarship administration, and student mentorship.
Mattia Migliore, Ph.D.
(1-year term)
Mattia Migliore is a clinical pharmacologist, licensed pharmacist, educator, and researcher with expertise in pharmacology, nanomedicine, healthcare, and the life sciences. She currently serves on Phi Kappa Phi's Board of Directors and is a founding member and president of the MCPHS University chapter. Migliore earned her Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences from Northeastern University and has extensive experience teaching in both traditional and online higher education environments.
Christine Kohls, MBA, CFRE
(2-year term)
Christine Kohls, MBA, CFRE, is founder and principal consultant of Raising Results LLC and currently serves on Phi Kappa Phi’s Board of Directors. A fundraising and nonprofit leadership professional with extensive experience in foundation, corporate, and government relations, she brings expertise in strategic planning, governance, philanthropy, and organizational development. She is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) with extensive experience supporting nonprofit and educational organizations.
Taylor Ruiz, MBA
(2-year term)
Taylor Ruiz, MBA, is a Sales Operations Coordinator at Far East Brokers & Consulting, Inc., where she supports sales and business development efforts related to the sourcing, production, importation, and distribution of general merchandise for grocery retailers. She earned her BBA from Jacksonville University with a triple major in finance, management, and marketing before completing her MBA in 2025. Ruiz currently serves on the Society's Board of Directors as the Graduate Student Representative and previously served as Student Vice President of Jacksonville University's chapter.
Alison Gregory
(3-year term)
Alison Gregory is Director of the Loyola Notre Dame Library and currently serves as Phi Kappa Phi’s Vice President for Chapter Development. A Phi Kappa Phi member since 1997, she was a chartering member and inaugural president of Marymount University’s chapter and previously served as Division V Vice President. Gregory brings more than 20 years of experience in higher education leadership, academic libraries, strategic planning, and institutional development.
Debora Wenger, Ph.D.
(3-year term)
Debora Wenger is a Professor at the University of Mississippi School of Journalism and New Media and currently serves on Phi Kappa Phi’s Board of Directors as Chair of the Governance Committee. A former television journalist and longtime educator, she brings extensive experience in higher education leadership, communications, governance, and strategic planning. Wenger has been a Phi Kappa Phi member since 2007 and has served the Society in both chapter and national leadership roles.
Undergraduate Student Representatives (1-year term)
Chapter Delegates will select one of the following nominees for Undergraduate Student Representative.
Michaela Reynolds
Michaela Reynolds is a student at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock pursuing a bachelor's degree in World Languages with a concentration in Spanish and a minor in Digital Arts. As a first-generation college student, she values the opportunities that higher education can provide and is committed to serving her campus and community. She currently interns with Seis Puentes, supporting Hispanic and immigrant families in Central Arkansas through outreach and administrative projects. Reynolds plans to become an ESL teacher and is passionate about language learning, education, and student success. She believes student perspectives are essential to effective leadership and values opportunities to represent and support her peers.
Gavin Wilson
Gavin Wilson is an Aerospace Professional Pilot and Flight Dispatch major with a minor in University Honors at Middle Tennessee State University, where he maintains a 4.0 GPA. A member of the MTSU Honors College and recipient of the Honors Buchanan Transfer Fellowship, he conducts undergraduate research on aviation safety management systems and emerging technologies in collegiate flight programs. Wilson serves as Student Vice President of his university's Phi Kappa Phi chapter and will serve as Student President during the coming academic year. He is also active in the Tennessee Aerospace Professionals Society, the Aerospace Student Safety Council, and Pilots for Christ. Wilson plans to become a Certified Flight Instructor and is committed to advancing aviation safety, leadership, and student engagement.
Click here to watch Wilson's video.
Jocelyn Wright
Jocelyn Wright is an undergraduate student at the University of Findlay enrolled in an accelerated dual-degree Doctor of Pharmacy and Master of Business Administration program, where she maintains a 3.92 GPA and serves as Student Vice President of the university's Phi Kappa Phi chapter. Her leadership experience includes serving as President of the Student Council of Clinical Pharmacy, Treasurer of the Student National Pharmaceutical Association, and Signare of Alpha Zeta Omega Pharmaceutical Fraternity. Wright also works as a Pharmacy Intern with Summa Health System and tutors undergraduate students in chemistry through the university's Academic Support Center. An avid runner and musician, she serves as Principal French Horn in the University of Findlay Wind Ensemble. Her academic and leadership experiences reflect a commitment to scholarship, service, and student engagement.
Click here to watch Wright's video.
Graduate Student Representative (1-year term)
Meaghan Caron
Meaghan Caron is a 2025 valedictorian of the University of Maine, where she earned degrees in microbiology, molecular and cellular biology, and French. She currently serves on the Society’s Board of Directors as Undergraduate Student Representative and was previously awarded both a Phi Kappa Phi Study Abroad Grant and Pioneer Award. A former Division I student-athlete, Caron has conducted research at the University of Maine and the University of Michigan and plans to pursue an M.D.-Ph.D. and a career as a physician-scientist.